Rotary printing press



Feb. 9, 1937.

F. A. FOSTER ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Filed June 28, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTCR 2%,?

Feb. 9, 1937. F. A. FOSTER ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Filed m 28, 1934 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Z, BY

: ATTORNEY S Feb. 9, 1937.

F. A. FOSTER ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Filed June 28, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3N m a a 4.. B

f lg] MIWVENTOR 2 W n fiw v vama/ To 0 a 0 A Q E N ,\.N N 0 a N 0 h 1 0D 0 N 0 v 0 3 a N O ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1937. F. A. FOSTER ROTARY PRINTINGPRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28, 1934 a 0 Q 0 vw N v N N m yENTORATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1937. F. A. FOSTER ROTARY PRINTING PRESS 5Sheets-Sheeq 5 Filed June' 28, 1934 J%GF-INVENTOR Patented Feb. 9, 1937UNITED STATES ZM'MZtS PATENT OFFWE RQTARY PRINTING PRESS corporation ofIllinois Application June 28, 1934, Serial No. 732,793

14 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in rotary printingpresses, and more especially to such improvements in the constructionand arrangement and in the coaction of the press units and the variousmechanisms constituting the press units.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned byprac- 1o tice with the invention, the same being realized and attainedby means of the instrumentalitles and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe 90 description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:-

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of a double orcomposite press unit;

Fig. 2 is a similar View of a single or primary press unit;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an arrangement of a press comprisingtwo composite units and a primary unit, with one folder therefor, andshowing one run of webs and of colors;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of Fig. 3, but showing a different run of websand colors;

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Figs. 3 and 4, but showing a different runof webs and of colors;

Fig. 6 is a similar View to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, but showing a differentrun of webs and of colors; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a composite press unit showing theaddition of printing members to the respective printing couples wherebythey are capacitated to print in two colors from each impressioncylinder.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and eflicientrotary press consisting basically of primary press units,whichmaybemounted and operated singly as units of the press, or

which may be joined together in pairs to constitute composite units. Theprinting instrumentalities of the primary unit are mounted andinterrelated in a specially convenient and efficient 5o manner, and inthe composite unit additional valuable inter-relations of all theinstrumentalities comprised in the composite unit are effected. Amongthe advantages of such a press are unusual flexibility in colorcombinations, and simplicity 55 and economy in securing increases inproduct capacity, which may be efiected by adding very small mechanicalunits representing least practical increases in product size. Forinstance, in certain types of presses the increment may be by four pageunits.

In carrying out the preferred embodiment, a primary press unit comprisesa unit frame wherein are mounted two printing couples, one above theother, with their inking mechanisms arranged at the same side of thecouples, and a web may 0 be run substantially vertically from one coupleto the other to be perfected. The composite press unit is created byjoining together, face to face, that is, in right and left relation, twoprimary units, by fixing together the two primary unit 5 frames. In thiscomposite unit the inter-relation of the printing instrumentalities ofeach of the primary units is preserved, and in addition newinter-relations of the four printing couples is obtained. For example,there is the vertical arrangement and positioning, in pairs, of twoprinting couples (as already described for a single pair in connectionwith the primary unit) and there are now also two groups of printingcouples, each group arranged in horizontal or approximately horizontalseries, with the impression cylinders adjacent to each other, and withthe plate cylinders and inking mechanisms on the outside. Further, inthe composite unit, all the impression cylinders are nearest each otherand are very close together, and all the plate cylinders and inkingmechanisms are arranged on the outside and at the two ends of the unit.Thus there are provided very short and direct alternative web paths fromany printing couple to any other couple of the composite. unit, eitherin the general vertical or horizontal direction.

This press structure represents great advantages in economy ofmanufacture, economy of space, convenience for plating and operation,and also the very important advantage of unusual flexibility regardingcolor combinations. In the present exemplification the invention isapplied to a press employing tubular stereotype plates, and theinvention offers many advantages when embodied in presses of that type,but it is likewise applicable to and presents many advantages whenembodied in other types of rotary presses, as for instance thoseemploying two plates around the form cylinder.

Other advantages and capacities of the invention will be set forth inconnection with the following detailed description, and. it will beunderstood that the foregoing general description and the followingdetailed description are illustrative and exemplary, but are notrestrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustratedby way of example in the accompanying drawings, a single or primarypress unit is shown (Fig. 2) as comprising two side frame members i,tied together by suitable cross frame members, this frame unit beingmounted on the press base in any usual or other suitable way. Mounted inframe unit I is a printing couple comprising an impression cylinder 2having its shaft 3 journaled in the frame, and in printing relationtherewith is a form cylinder shown of half diameter, and carrying atubular stereotype plate 5. The plate cylinder 6 has its shaft 6journaled in the frame, the frame is being shaped to permit end removaland replacement of tubular stereotype plates in a well-known manner. Theinking mechanism for the plate cylinder i is shown somewhatconventionally as comprising form rollers l, distributing rollers 3, inkdrums 9, a ductor roller W, a fountain roller if and an ink fountain l2.The inking mechanism is preferably arranged at one side of anddownwardly from the plate cylinder.

The second printing couple mounted in the primary unit frame is shown ofthe same construction, and is mounted in the frame i above thejust-described printing couple, and is shown arranged symmetricallytherewith, with the form cylinder and its inking mechanism on the sameside of the impression cylinder. As shown, the impression cylinder 25has its shaft 22 journaled in the frame, and the plate cylinder 23,carrying the plate as, has its shaft 25 likewise journaled in themachine frame. The inking mechanism, indicated collectively by referencenumeral 2'6, is mounted in the frame I just above the inking mechanismfor the other printing couple. It is usual to mount the web supplybeneath the press, and with such an arrangement the web w is fedupwardly over guide roller 29 is printed on one side by the cylinders 2and 4, passes over guide roller 30 toimpression cylinder 2|, isperfected by cylinders 21 and 23, and passes over guide rollers 3! and32 out of the unit, either directly to the folder, or into otherprinting or perfecting couples, or into association with other websbefore folding.

The printing couples and inking mechanisms of a primary unit and theprimary unit frame are constructed, arranged and designed so that theseunits may be mounted and operate in the press individually, or so thattwo of these primary units can constitute a composite press unit havingtwo complete perfecting mechanisms operating as a single press unit. Aspreferably embodied, the frames of two primary units are mounted andfixed together face to face, that is, in right and left relation, withthe printing couples of each primary unit, one above the other, and withall the impression cylinders on the inside and with all of the platecylinders and their inking mechanisms on the outside, as shownexemplarily in Fig. 1. In the preferred form, the printing couples arein the same position and relation with respect to their frame units,that is, in each frame unit they are mounted at the same, orsubstantially the same level, and in the same arrangement of theprinting couple members as mounted in the frame unit. In the compositepress unit therefore, considered longitudinally of the press, theimpression cylinders are on the inside, and the plate cylinders are onthe outside both at the forward and rear ends of the unit. The detailsof frame construction whereby the primary units are arranged to beindependently mounted in the press or joined in pairs to constitutecomposite units may be widely varied as desired, and as embodied, one ormore interchangeable frame members are employed as part of the primaryframe units for this purpose. As shown, the two: side frames of theprimary unit have removable vertical members 43 bolted to the main sideframes at M, 45, and 46, to complete the side frames for the primaryunit. To unite two primary press units into one composite unit, it ispreferable to bring the two units as closely together as possible, andto effect this, the vertical frame members 43 are removed, andcorresponding parts of the two primary unit frames at either side of thepress are bolted directly together, as shown at 41 and 48. Foradditional strength, a vertical frame member 5| is provided at eitherside in place of the corresponding frame piece 43, is bolted at 52 and53 to both primary unit frame members. The side frames of the twoprimary units are thus joined together very closely and firmly.

In the embodied composite press unit there are four printing couples,arranged in pairs in both vertical and horizontal series. In a verticalseries of two printing couples the impression cylinders are on theinside and the plate cylinders and the inking mechanisms are on theoutside, and in corresponding relations in both couples. In a horizontalseries of two printing couples, the impression cylinders are closelyadjacent to each other, with the plate cylinders and the inkingmechanisms on the outside. Such a composite unit comprises four closelyadjacent printing couples, with the four impression cylinders inside andall near each other, and with alternative web leads either up and downor across whereby the four couples may be used in unusually wide andvaried combinations, employing one or more webs, to print or perfect theweb or webs in one color or in multicolor. In the composite unit also,all the plate cylinders are on the outside and easily accessible, andthe same is true as to all of the inking mechanisms.

In Figs. 3 to 7 there are shown various combinations of webs and ofcolors that may be run on a press consisting of two composite units andone primary unit. The primary unit is indicated by A, the two parts ofthe first composite unit are indicated respectively by B-l and B2, andthe two parts of the other composite unit are designated by C-l and C2.In Fig. 3 one web is perfected in a single color on A and another web isperfected in four colors on units Bi, 13-2, Cl and C2, both webs beingassociated at the folder F, to give a folded black and four colorproduct. In Fig. 4 one Web is perfected in two colors on A and B-l, andanother web is perfected in three colors on 3-2, C-I, and C2 andassociated at the folder F, to give a folded product printed part in twocolors and the remainder in the same or two other colors.

In 5 one Web is perfected in a single color on A, another web isperfected in a single color on 3-9, the third web is perfected in onecolor on B2 and a fourth web is perfected in two colors on C! and C-2,all four webs being associated at the folder F, to give a folded productprinted in one color and multicolor or in a plurality of single colorsand multicolor. In Fig. 6 the arrangement and the product is the same asin Fig. 5 except that the fourth web is perfected with two colors on oneside and one on the other, one printing couple being idle, the four websbeing associated and folded at the folder F. In Fig. by reversing one ofthe printing couples, as for example, the lower left-hand couple of oneof the units, the web can be led first through the right-hand lowercouple, then through the reversed left-hand lower couple, and then upthrough the two upper couples running in the normal direction. The webis thereby printed with black or one color on the inside and with twocolors and black on the outside of the web.

In Fig. 7 is exemplarily shown a composite press unit, wherein all theprinting couples are provided with two plate cylinders, whereby twocolors may be printed on each impression cylinder, this modificationalso being exemplified in a press using the slotted, tubular stereotypeplates. The additional plate cylinder and inking mechanism for each ofthe printing units is designed preferably as an attachable anddetachable addition to the single plate cylinder units heretoforedescribed. In each of the lower printing couples, the additional platecylinder 64 is of the tubular plate type already described and its shaft65 is journaled in frame member l3 formed, as previously stated, topermit end removal of the slotted tubular plates 61. The inkingmechanism indicated generally by 68 is also removable from the frame.The additional plate cylinders H for the upper printing couples areshown mounted above the impression cylinders 2| in the manner alreadydescribed. Attachable and removable frames 13 are shown bolted to thetop of the composite frame unit at 14, 15, and 16 and to each other atH, and the inking mechanisms 79 are shown mounted in frames 13. All thepress units may be constructed for primary units unitable into compositeunits and capacitated to add the additional plate cylinder for one ormore of the impression cylinders of any of the press units.

In the preferred embodiment, when two complementary units, that is, aright and left unit, are joined together to constitute a composite unit,the construction and arrangement are such that a single driving meanswill drive both units. That is, if a gear drive is employed for theprinting couples in a primary frame unit, when the other primary frameunit is backed thereon and bolted thereto, the gears for the printingcouples of the second frame unit will mesh with the drive for the firstframe unit to drive all the couples of the composite frame unit.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the details ofconstruction of the present exemplary or preferred embodiment, nor toany details of construction, and changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the principles of the invention or sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

1. In a printing press, an integral press unit comprising a primary unitframe mounted on the press bed, printing mechanism mounted in said unitframe and consisting of two printing couples, one above another, theimpression cylinders of the printing couples being on the outside andwith their peripheries close to the end of the unit frame, the uppercouple occupying the uppermost part of said unit, inking mechanismsmounted in said frame unit on the same side of their respective printingcouples, two of said primary frame units being securable directly toeach other, face to face, with their printing couples within and closelyadjacent to each other, to constitute a composite unit with perfectingunits available either vertically or horizontally.

2. In a printing press,'an integral press unit comprising a primary unitframe mounted on the press bed, printing mechanism mounted in said unitframe and consisting of two printing couples, one above another, theupper couple occupying the uppermost part of said unit, inkingmechanisms mounted in said frame unit on the same side of theirrespective printing couples, two of said primary frame units beingsecurable directly to each other, face to face, with their printingcouples within and closely adjacent to each other, to constituteperfecting units either horizontally or vertically and a pair ofvertical frame members securable at their tops and bottoms to bothprimary unit frame members when secured together, face to face.

3. In a printing press, an integral press unit comprising a primary unitframe mounted on the press bed, printing mechanisms mounted in said unitframe and consisting of two printing couples, one above another, theupper couple occupying the uppermost part of said unit, inkingmechanisms mounted in said frame unit on the same side of theirrespective printing couples, and a pair of vertical bracing frame unitssecurable to the side members of the primary unit along their edgesadjacent to the impression cylinders, said members being removable topermit two of the primary press units to be secured directly to eachother, face to face.

4. In a printing press, an integral press unit comprising a primary unitframe mounted on the press base, printing mechanisms mounted in saidunit frame and consisting of two printing couples, one above another,the upper couple occupying the uppermost part of said unit, inkingmechanisms mounted in said frame unit on-the same side of theirrespective printing couples, two of said primary frame units beingsecurable directly to each other, face to face, with their printingcouples within and closely adjacent to each other, and means forsecuring said unit frames together near their base and near eachprinting couple to constitute a composite press unit.

5. In a printing press, an integral press unit comprising a frame unitmountable separately on the press base and having side frames and bothend faces separated from other units of the press, and having two inkingmechanisms mounted one above the other in said side frames at one endface thereof, two impression cylinders mounted vertically one above theother in said side frames at the other end face thereof, and two platecylinders mounted one above the other between said inking mechanisms andsaid impression cylinders, the train of said inking mechanisms extendingfrom their plate cylinders downwardly and outwardly toward the ends ofthe side frames.

6. In a printing press an integral press unit comprising a frame unitmountable separately on the press base and having side frames and bothend faces separated from other units of the press, and two impressioncylinders mounted vertically one above the other in said side frameswith their peripheries just within the ends of the frames, platecylinders of less diameter cooperating with the impression cylinders onthe inside and mounted on the frame at substantially the same level, andinking mechanisms for the plate cylinders inclined downwardly an'doutwardly therefrom.

'7. In a printing press an integral press unit comprising a frame unitmountable separately on the press base and having side frames and bothend faces separated from other units of the press,

and two impression cylinders mounted vertically one above the other insaid side frames with their peripheries just within the ends of theframes, the ends of the frames being formed to abut with and to befastened to the side frames of another press unit, plate cylinders ofless diameter cooperating with the impression cylinders on the insideand mounted on the frame at substantially the same level, and inkingmechanisms for the plate cylinders, arranged one above another, theinking mechanisms being inclined downwardly and. outwardly from theirplate cylinders and projecting beyond the ends of the side frames.

8. In a printing press an integral press unit comprising a frame unitmountable separately on the press base and having side frames and bothend faces separated from other units of the press, and two impressioncylinders mounted vertically one above the other in said side frameswith their peripheries just within the ends of the frames, said ends ofthe frames being formed at a plurality of places to abut with and to befastened to the side frames of another press unit, plate cylinderscooperating with the impression cylinders on the inside and mounted onthe frame at substantially the same level, inking mecha nisms for theplate cylinders, arranged one above another, the inking mechanisms beinginclined downwardly and outwardly from their plate cylinders, andvertically disposed bracing frame members attached to the side frames atsaid fastening places, and removable to permit fastening together twoabutting frame units.

9. In a printing press a composite press unit comprising two integralperfecting press units optionally attachable together to constitute adouble perfecting composite unit, each integral unit having side framesformed with a plurality of places at one end thereof to abut with andtube fastened to the side frames of another integral unit and to befastened to corresponding parts of the side frame of another press unit,two impression cylinders mounted vertically one above the other in theside frames of each unit with their peripheries just within said ends ofthe side frames, plate cylinders cooperating with said impressioncylinders on the inside and mounted on the frames at substantially thesame level, inking mechanisms for the plate cylinders arranged one aboveanother, the inking mechanisms being inclined downwardly and outwardlyfrom their plate cylinders, and vertically disposed bracing framemembers-attached at their tops and bottoms to the abutting side framesof both integral units to strengthen and steady the composite pressunit.

10. In a printing press, an integral press unit comprising a frame unitmountable separately on the press base and having side frames, twoimpression cylinders mounted one above the-other with their peripheriesjust within one end of the side frame, said ends on the side frameshaving a plurality of places formed to abut on and to be fastened to theside frames of a similar unit, impression cylinders on the inside ofsaid form cylinders and mounted to permit endwise insertion and removalof the plates, and inking mechanisms for said form cylinders.

11. In a printing press, an integral press unit comprising a frame unitmountable separately on the press base and having side frames, twoimpression cylinders mounted one above the other with their peripheriesjust within one end of the side frame, said ends on the side frameshaving a plurality of places formed to abut on and to be fastened to theside frames of a similar unit, impression cylinders on the inside ofsaid form cylinders and mounted to permit endwise insertion and removalof the plates, and inking mechanisms for said form cylinders, thefountain of the lower inking mechanism being approximately at floorlevel.

12. In a printing press, an integral press unit comprising a frame unitmountable separately on the press base and having side frames, twoimpression cylinders mounted one above the other with their peripheriesjust within one end of the side frame, said ends on the side frameshaving a plurality of places formed to abut on and to be fastened to theside frames of a similar unit, impression cylinders on the inside ofsaid form cylinders and mounted to permit endwise insertion and removalof the plates, and inking mechanisms for said form cylinders andextending downwardly and outwardly therefrom, the fountain of the lowerinking mechanism being approximately at floor level.'

13. In a printing press, an integral press unit comprising a primaryunit frame, mounted separately on the press base, twoprinting couplesmounted in said unit frame, one above another to constitute a perfectingunit, inking mechanisms mounted in the frame on the same side of theirrespective printing couples, two of said primary unit frames beingdirectly securable together, face to face, with their printing coupleswithin and closely adjacent to each other, to constitute a compositepress unit, said primary frame units being formed to take either pair ofinterchangeable pairs of vertical frame members, one pair of saidvertical members being securable to the face end of a primary unitframe, when used alone, at the base and adjacentto each of the printingcouples to brace and complete the frame, the other pair of saidinterchangeable frame members being securable at their top and bottom toboth of two primary frame units that have been secured together toconstitute a composite press unit.

14. In a printing press, an integral press unit comprising a primaryunit frame mounted on a press bed, printing mechanism mounted in saidunit frame and consisting of two printing couples, one above another,the impression cylinders being located one above another with theirperipheries just within an end of the unit frame, and the platecylinders substantially in the same horizontal plane with theirimpression cylinders, and inking mechanisms at the other end of the unitframe and extending downwardly fromtheir plate cylinders,-two of saidprimary frame units being directly securable to each other, with thefour impression cylinders on the inside, to constitute a composite frameunit with perfecting printing units available either vertically orhorizontally.

FRANK A. FOSTER.

